Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion (BRVO) Treatment

Branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) cannot be cured. The main goal of treatment is to keep your vision stable. This is usually done by sealing off any leaking blood vessels in the retina. This helps prevent further swelling of the macula.

Your ophthalmologist may do a form of laser surgery called focal laser treatment. A laser is used to make tiny burns to areas around the macula. This helps stop fluid from leaking from the vessels.

Your ophthalmologist may also choose to treat your BRVO with medication injections in the eye. The medicine can help reduce the swelling of the macula. These injections are a type of medicine called “anti-VEGF.” They can improve vision in about 1 of 2 patients who take them. Injections need to be given regularly for one to two years for the benefit to last.

It usually takes a few months before you notice your vision improving after treatment. While most people see some improvement in their vision, some people won’t have any improvement.

For those who don’t show improvement with anti-VEGF, steroid injections or steroid implants may be an option. The steroid implant can improve vision in close to a third of people with BRVO.